#30 most spoken · language profile
Hmong in the United States
An estimated 225,749 people aged 5 and older speak Hmong at home across U.S. metropolitan areas. About 41.2% of them, roughly 92,923 people, speak English less than "very well." Interpreter demand is highest where the limited-English population is largest, such as Yuba City, where about 68.7% of Hmong speakers report speaking English less than "very well."
Where Hmong is spoken: top metro areas
Ranked by number of speakers at home. 93 additional metro areas have Hmong speakers but did not meet Census reliability standards and are not listed.
| # | Metro area | Speakers (± margin) | Limited English | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 67,878 ±4K | 41.7% | 39.2–44.1% |
| 2 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 24,567 ±3K | 44.7% | 40.2–49.1% |
| 3 | Fresno, CA | 23,047 ±2K | 42.7% | 38.9–46.5% |
| 4 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 9,323 ±1K | 33.8% | 27.2–40.4% |
| 5 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 5,300 ±679 | 30.9% | 23.6–38.1% |
| 6 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 4,849 ±1K | 46% | 37–55.1% |
| 7 | Stockton, CA | 4,736 ±984 | 40.8% | 31.5–50% |
| 8 | Tulsa, OK | 4,726 ±827 | 39.9% | 31.2–48.6% |
| 9 | Wausau-Weston, WI | 4,722 ±850 | 43.5% | 35.3–51.6% |
| 10 | Merced, CA | 4,325 ±885 | 31.9% | 23.3–40.6% |
| 11 | Green Bay, WI | 3,977 ±853 | 55.3% | 47.3–63.4% |
| 12 | Yuba City, CA | 3,566 ±944 | 68.7% | 58.9–78.6% |
| 13 | Sheboygan, WI | 3,463 ±636 | 51% | 37–65% |
| 14 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 3,357 ±835 | 36.6% | 26.9–46.4% |
| 15 | Chico, CA | 3,038 ±785 | 56% | 44–68% |
| 16 | Madison, WI | 3,024 ±948 | not reliable | — |
| 17 | Appleton, WI | 3,008 ±745 | 42.4% | 33.2–51.7% |
| 18 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | 2,957 ±644 | 30.9% | 21.4–40.4% |
| 19 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2,771 ±819 | 34.2% | 25.1–43.3% |
| 20 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA | 2,683 ±744 | 38.7% | 27–50.4% |
| 21 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 2,645 ±755 | 35.8% | 23–48.7% |
| 22 | Kansas City, MO-KS | 2,577 ±918 | 24.1% | 15.2–33% |
| 23 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,764 ±607 | not reliable | — |
| 24 | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 1,754 ±565 | 43.5% | 34.5–52.5% |
Limited English means speaking English less than "very well." Margins of error are at the 90 percent confidence level. "Range" is the 90 percent confidence interval for the limited-English share.
Help Hmong speakers be understood
Every dot on this map is a person who deserves to be understood. Medical, legal, and community interpreters turn that need into access. Training is how you start.
Frequently asked questions
- How many people speak Hmong in the United States?
- An estimated 225,749 people aged 5 and older speak Hmong at home across U.S. metropolitan areas, based on the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey.
- What share of Hmong speakers have limited English proficiency?
- About 41.2 percent, roughly 92,923 people, report speaking English less than "very well." That is the population professional interpreters serve.
- Which U.S. metro area has the most Hmong speakers?
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, with about 67,878 Hmong speakers at home.
- Where is Hmong interpreter demand highest?
- Demand tracks the size of the limited-English population. Yuba City, CA stands out, where about 68.7 percent of Hmong speakers report speaking English less than "very well."